High School

RCS LOOKS TO EXPAND THEIR FREE EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM

Sep

29

2016

Early Collge Cohort 2016

Dr. Jaime Nelson

Romulus Community Schools will host an Early College information session for parents and their students who are in grades 8th-10th and live in Wayne County. The meeting will take place on October, 20th at Romulus High School at 6pm in room 519.

The school district has a unique partnership with the Wayne County Community College District, providing a college experience to students while they attend high school. The program graduated its first class of 35 students last year, saving families an estimated $10,000 while students earned 60 to 62 transferrable credits and or an associate’s degree.

Students qualify for the program based off a point system that includes criteria from their grade point average, behavior, attendance record, and teacher recommendations. Students must apply by February of their sophomore year and write 5 essays to prove their writing skills are college ready. In their first year, students are juniors and attend up to three hours at Romulus High School and take two cohort classes at WCCCD. They also have a college seminar course taught by the Early College Director Dr. Jaime Nelson. In their second year, students are seniors and attend two hours at RHS and take two cohort classes and one elective course at WCCCD. The third and final year students take one class at RHS, and their remaining workload at WCCCD.

Dr. Nelson who is in her 16th year teaching at RHS mentors students who commit to the program from start to finish. "I am able to be with the students both at the high school, and then at WCCCD campus as well. This makes the program unique as students have support at both locations. I am able to get to know the professors and even sit in classes with our students, so they are not just thrown in the college setting. It’s comforting that they know they have a teacher who is there for support along the way”, said Nelson.

RCS is looking to offer this money saving Early College opportunity to families in the Metro-Detroit area. Any student in Wayne County who is currently a 10th grader can apply this winter for next year's program. For more information contact Dr. Nelson at 734-532- 1157 or email her at jknelson@romulus.k12.mi.us